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KYIV - Elon Musk's SpaceX should choose sides between Ukraine and Russia, a senior Ukrainian official said on Thursday, after the company said it was curbing Kyiv's use of Starlink internet devices for controlling drones.
Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, said on Wednesday the Starlink service - which has provided Ukraine with broadband communications in its defence against Russian forces - was "never meant to be weaponized."
"A year of Ukrainian resistance & companies have to decide: Either they are on the side of Ukraine & the right to freedom, and don’t seek ways to do harm. Or they are on Russia's side & its 'right' to kill & seize territories," Podolyak wrote.
"SpaceX (Starlink) & Mrs. Shotwell should choose a specific option," he said.
Ukraine's military uses thousands of Starlink devices to communicate in the field. Some of the devices were provided by the company free of charge.
Despite the importance of Starlink for Kyiv, Podolyak has criticized Musk more than once since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He has dismissed ideas put forward by Musk for "exchang(ing) foreign territories for an illusory peace," and urged him not to "pessimize" Ukrainian official accounts of the conflict.
originally posted by: vNex92
I am sorry but who made this Ukrainian clown official the king of the world?
originally posted by: Xcalibur254
Musk has clearly become a Russian puppet. It's no coincidence that he's cutting off the Ukrainian military's access to Starlink just as Russia is launching a massive offensive.
originally posted by: didntasktobeborned
Musk does NOT possess a pioneering spirit, he is NOT NASA, just a puppet war profiteer and meddler, Has absolutely no business representing the taming of the final frontier. I would like to have coffee with him just to look into those inbred eyes and tell him just how little business he has in space. He is embarrassing.
originally posted by: Xcalibur254
a reply to: putnam6
It's not just the thing with Starlink. That's just the most overt action he's taken. For the past few weeks Musk has been retweeting the most blatantly obvious Russian propaganda.